Discharge hose system for a motor vehicle air conditioning system

ABSTRACT

A discharge hose system is provided for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit. The discharge hose system includes, but is not limited to a discharge hose and a vent line. The discharge hose and the vent line are designed as a single piece together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102009008274.3, filed Feb. 10, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a discharge hose system for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit that exhibits a discharge hose and an uptake.

BACKGROUND

Known from DE 44 26 587 C1 is a discharge nozzle for ventilation or air conditioning units in motor vehicles for discharging condensation water arising in the unit and/or water that penetrated through the fresh air inlet. The discharge nozzle is here connected at one end with the fresh air system of the unit, and its opposite end exhibits either an outer flange that abuts flush on a mounting wall, or is arranged in an unsupported manner with the opposite end. In both cases, there is a danger that the discharge nozzle will be pinched and, in the worst case scenario, completely sealed by another component situated in its proximity, causing water to dam up in the discharge nozzle, and flood the water accumulator of the ventilation or air conditioning unit.

At least one object of the present invention is to indicate a discharge hose system with a discharge hose for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit that avoids a compression or sealing of the discharge hose, while ensuring simple assembly and taking the prescribed assembly sequence into account. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the invention, the discharge hose system provided for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit has a discharge hose and a vent line. The discharge hose and vent line are here integrated to form a single piece.

The advantage to the discharge hose system is that the discharge hose is protected against compression by other components of the motor vehicle situated in proximity to the discharge hose. This prevents the vehicle air conditioning unit from flooding, thereby resulting in a disruption or malfunction.

In addition, the discharge hose system according to the invention enables a simple assembly of the discharge hose, without influencing the assembly sequence, and further results in a reduction in components for the discharge hose system.

The discharge hose and the vent line can be designed as a single piece with each other in such a way that the discharge hose and the vent line are initially arranged separate from each other, and connected during assembly. However, it is preferred that the discharge hose and the vent line be made out of a molded part, and cannot be nondestructively separated from each other.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the discharge hose exhibits at least one area made out of a hard plastic material. This further increases the protection of the discharge hose against compression, since a hard plastic material is sparingly deformable.

In another embodiment of the discharge hose system according to the invention, the discharge hose exhibits at least one area made of a soft plastic material. This enables a simple assembly of the discharge hose in an air conditioning module of the motor vehicle air conditioning unit.

It is also possible for the discharge hose to exhibit at least one area made out of a hard plastic material and at least one area made out of a soft plastic material. This yields an advantageous combination of properties for the two materials, since intrinsic stiffness of the discharge hose is increased by the hard plastic material on the one hand, and assembly of the discharge hose on the air conditioning module is simplified by the soft plastic material on the other.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the discharge hose exhibits a bellows. The latter further increases the flexibility of the discharge hose when attached to the air conditioning module.

In a preferred embodiment of the discharge hose system according to the invention, the vent line is a vent line in the rear seat area of the motor vehicle. This results in the advantage of a further simplified assembly of the discharge hose system, since enough space is present for the discharge hose in the area of this vent line.

In an embodiment of the discharge hose system according to the invention, the discharge hose and the vent line are designed as a single piece together by means of a connecting web. This is advantageous in particular for a case where the discharge hose and vent line are initially arranged separate from each other during assembly, since the connecting web enables the one-piece design.

In an alternative embodiment, the discharge hose is designed flush with the vent line. This is advantageous in particular if the discharge hose and vent line are already made out of a single molded part.

The discharge hose can additionally exhibit a check valve. In particular, the check valve can be a flap valve. Providing a check valve protects the motor vehicle air conditioning unit against the penetration of exhaust gases through the discharge hose of the discharge hose system, in that the check valve only opens if a high enough force is exerted by the water to be discharged from the air conditioning unit on the check valve, with the check valve otherwise remaining closed.

In an embodiment of the discharge hose system according to the invention, the discharge hose is at least partially arranged in the interior space of the vehicle, and leads to an exterior area of the motor vehicle via the vehicle floor. In an alternative embodiment, the discharge hose is at least partially arranged in the interior space of the vehicle, and leads through the engine compartment into an exterior area of the motor vehicle. The selection of area where the discharge hose leads into the exterior area of the motor vehicle enables an optimal adjustment of the discharge hose system to the respective space conditions of the motor vehicle.

The discharge hose and/or the vent lie can additionally be fixed in the vehicle floor. This advantageously ensures a reliable positioning of the discharge hose system. The discharge hose is here preferably fixed in place on the vehicle floor by an outside flange and the vent line by a bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the discharge hose system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the discharge hose system 1 according to the invention. For reasons of clarity, FIG. 1 here does not depict the motor vehicle air conditioning unit with which the discharge hose system 1 according to the invention is connected, as well as the motor vehicle in which the motor vehicle air conditioning unit and the discharge hose system 1 are partially arranged.

The discharge hose system 1 exhibits a discharge hose 2 as well as a vent line 3, which in the embodiment shown is an air vent in the rear seat area of the motor vehicle. The discharge hose 2 is here designed as a single piece with the vent line 3 by a connecting web 7.

The discharge hose 2 has an upper end area 9, which connects the discharge hose 2 with an air conditioning module of the motor vehicle air conditioning unit. The lower end area 10 of the discharge hose 2 has an opening for discharging the condensation water form the interior space of the vehicle that collects in the air conditioning unit. The lower end area 10 can here be provided with a check valve or membrane, so as to prevent exhaust gases from penetrating into the discharge hose 2.

In addition, the discharge hose 2 exhibits an area 4 made of a hard plastic material. Providing a hard mastic material affords this area 4 with an elevated level of protection against compression by components of the motor vehicle situated adjacent to the discharge hose 2 and not shown on FIG. 1.

One area 5 of the discharge hose 2 exhibits a bellows 6. The bellows 6 can here consist of a soft plastic material, and enables an elevated flexibility of the discharge hose 2 when secured to the air conditioning module of the motor vehicle air conditioning unit.

A first end area 15 of the vent line 3 exhibits an opening 11, through which the vent line 3 is connected with the air conditioning module of the motor vehicle air conditioning unit. In addition, the vent line 3 exhibits a second end area 16 with openings 12, wherein the rear seat area of the motor vehicle is supplied with heated or cooled fresh or ambient air via the openings 12.

The first end area 15 of the vent line 3 can additionally exhibit a bellows that simplifies the process of securing the vent line 3 to the air conditioning module of the motor vehicle air conditioning unit.

The discharge hose 2 along with the vent line 3 are arranged in the area of the vehicle floor underneath a cover, which is formed by the interior space cladding of the motor vehicle, for example. In the embodiment shown, both the discharge hose 2 and the vent line 3 are here fixed to the vehicle floor. To this end, the discharge hose 2 exhibits an exterior flange 8, which abuts the vehicle floor flush. The vent line 3 is secured to the vehicle floor by means of bolts (not shown). The bolts are here arranged inside recesses 14 in the vent line 3. In addition, the vent line 3 exhibits a bracket 13 with a recess. Another retaining pin or bolt can be arranged in this recess, thereby enabling an additional fixation of the vent line 3 to the vehicle floor. The exterior flange 8 also functions as a sealing ring for the discharge hose 2, to protect the interior space of the vehicle from exhaust gases and splashed water.

In the embodiment shown, both the bellows 6 and the exterior flange 8 are designed as a single piece with the discharge hose 2. However, it is also conceivable to provide one or both of these components as a separate molded part to be secured to the discharge hose 2.

In addition, the discharge hose 2 shown in the embodiment leads into an exterior area of the motor vehicle by way of the vehicle floor. As an alternative, the discharge hose 2 can be guided via the face of the motor vehicle from the interior space of the vehicle into the engine compartment of the motor vehicle, and there be routed into an exterior area of the motor vehicle. It is also possible to guide the discharge hose 2 via an exhaust gas tunnel into an exterior area of the motor vehicle, wherein a heat protection plate is additionally provided in this alternative, which envelops the discharge hose 2, thereby preventing the discharge hose 2 from softening or melting due to the hot exhaust gases.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. A discharge hose system for an air conditioning unit of a motor vehicle, the discharge hose system comprising: a discharge hose; and a vent line as a single piece with the discharge hose.
 2. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose comprises at least one area of a hard plastic material.
 3. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose comprises at least one area of a soft plastic material.
 4. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose comprises at least one area of a hard plastic material and at least a second area of a soft plastic material.
 5. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose comprises a bellows.
 6. The discharge hose system according claim 1, wherein the vent line is located in a rear seat area of the motor vehicle.
 7. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose and the vent line are the single piece with each other via a connecting web.
 8. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose is substantially flush with the vent line.
 9. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose comprises a check valve.
 10. The discharge hose system according to claim 9, wherein the check valve is a flap valve.
 11. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose is at least partially situated in an interior space of the motor vehicle and leads into an exterior area of the motor vehicle by way of a vehicle floor.
 12. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose is at least partially arranged in an interior space of the motor vehicle and leads to an exterior area of the motor vehicle by way of an engine compartment.
 13. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hose is fixed to a vehicle floor.
 14. The discharge hose system according to claim 1, wherein the vent line is fixed to a vehicle floor.
 15. The discharge hose system according to claim 13, wherein the discharge hose is fixed to the vehicle floor with an exterior flange.
 16. The discharge hose system according to claim 14, wherein the vent line is fixed to the vehicle floor with a bolt. 